Cooper Extends Early Cutoff For Restaurant Alcohol Sales

North Carolina’s governor is extending an executive order that limits the hours that restaurants can serve alcohol to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Roy Cooper announced Monday that he’s extending his order that requires restaurants to stop serving alcoholic beverages at 11 p.m. until Oct. 2. State law usually allows sales until 2 a.m. The order originally went into effect in July. The order doesn’t apply to grocery stores, convenience stores and other retailers that sell beer and wine for consumption off premises. Bars remain closed under Cooper’s executive orders. Cooper said that the state has been stabilizing COVID-19 numbers but that it’s important to stay vigilant.